Flow wrap packaging

ABSTRACT

The invention is directed to a sealed packaging ( 1, 100, 110 ) for food products (P), such as confectionery products like candy bars or ice cream bars, preferably having a substantially cuboid form and comprising a flow wrap ( 2 ), wherein the flow wrap ( 2 ) is closed by end seals ( 3, 4 ) at two opposed ends ( 5, 6 ) and a fin seal ( 7 ) extending in a longitudinal direction of the packaging ( 1, 100, 110 ) between the two end seals ( 3, 4 ), wherein the fin seal ( 7 ) is provided at a lateral side ( 8 ) of the packaging ( 1, 100, 110 ), wherein an opening aid ( 9 ) is provided in the fin seal ( 7 ), and wherein the opening aid ( 9 ) extends into a tear-line ( 11 ) which diagonally traverses at least one of a front and rear wall (F, R) of the packaging ( 1, 100, 110 ).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to sealed packaging for food products, such asconfectionery products like candy bars or ice cream bars, comprising aflow wrap being closed by at least one end seal as well as a fin seal.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the prior art, many packages are known such as candy bars or thelike, being made of a flow wrap. Several ways of opening the packagingis also known wherein it can be either opened by using the end sealpattern or the long fin seal pattern to initiate the tear. Such openingis however neither controlled nor intuitive. Further, such conventionalpackaging does not guarantee access to the product via a full wideopening as the opening is not controlled. Consequently, such packagingopens in a random fashion often leading to contact between the fingersof the consumer and the product.

Further, conventional packaging renders it difficult to access theproduct without damaging the product, since the consumer needs to pressonto the outer surface of the packaging surrounding the product in orderto gain access. Therefore, the product may get crushed and thus damagedby the pressure and/or starts to melt if said product is heat-sensitive.

EP 0 957 743 A1, for instance, shows a package for candy bars includinga cut which extends into the seal and constitutes a weak spot in thefoil material, wherein the said weak spot forms the starting point of atear. To open the package the longitudinal seal is gripped by two handswhich are moved away from each other so that the package tear startsfrom the cut which results in separated parts of the package.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,290,526 shows a tubular wrapper-type container. Thepackage includes a section extending around the package towards the sealseam thereof, which section is adapted to break or tear to open thepackage and expose the contents thereof. The section can extend at anacute angle to the longitudinal axis of the seal seam being arranged atthe rear side of the package, or it can extend in a V-shaped outline onthe front side. The section of the seal seam between the ends of thesection at the rear side of the package can serve as a hinge thatconnects the two parts of the package being torn apart.

JP 2002-193276 A2 shows an easy-to-open packaging bag including anopening starting part provided in a thermally adhered but-seam part.Furthermore, it also includes a cut line which extends in a slantingdirection from the opening starting part towards both the side ends ofthe bag and crosses the folding parts.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention aims to improve on the above-mentioned drawbacks,and an object thereof is to provide a packaging which allows a simpleand intuitive opening as well as a “mess-free” consumption of theproduct.

The object is to be accomplished by means of the independent claims. Thedependent claims advantageously study further the central idea of theinvention.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a sealedpackaging for food products, such as confectionery products like candybars or ice cream bars, preferably having a substantially cuboid formand comprising a flow wrap, wherein the flow wrap is closed by end sealsat two opposed ends and a fin seal extending in a longitudinal directionof the packaging between the two end seals, wherein the fin seal isprovided at (i.e. extends along) a lateral side of the packaging,wherein an opening aid is provided in the fin seal, and wherein theopening aid extends into a tear-line which diagonally traverses at leastone of a front and rear wall of the packaging, i.e. in a direction so asto approach one of the end seals.

By means of the packaging according to the invention, an intuitiveopening feature is provided as the consumer merely needs to grasp thefin seal in a region close to the opening aid to open the packaging in asimple and convenient manner. Therefore, the fin seal is placed at oneof the lateral sides of the packaging when facing the product and thusenables an opening feature which can be easily located and used in anintuitive way. Further, the packaging as claimed allows for a“mess-free” application. This comes about since said packaging is easyto open which avoids damage to the product during opening since there isno need to press directly onto the product via the packaging. Further,the tear-line provides a feature for a controlled and thus clean openingof the packaging.

The packaging may further comprise at least a further tear-line, whereinthe additional tear-line extends from a region of the lateral side closeto where the previous tear-line ends (i.e. a lateral side being oppositeto the lateral side having the fin seal and opening aid), and theadditional tear-line diagonally traverses at least one of the front andrear wall of the packaging in a direction so that all tear-linesapproach the same end seal, and wherein the tear-lines are arranged suchthat they do not cross each other. It is thus possible to open thepackaging step by step according to the consumer's needs while there isno need to press onto the product to force it towards the opening.Further, product integrity is ensured until the end of the consumptionas the product is only uncovered to an extent complying with theconsumer's needs.

Preferably, the tear-line diagonally traverses both the front and rearwall of the packaging, i.e. in a direction so as to approach said one ofthe end seals, and the tear-lines on both sides of the packagingpreferably extend in parallel to each other. It is thus possible toprovide a full wide opening of the packaging to allow a comfortableaccess to the product to be consumed.

The opening aid may be provided in the fin seal so as to be closer toone of the end seals being a first end seal; in this regard, thetear-lines preferably diagonally traverse the packaging so as toapproach the end seal being opposite to the first end seal.

In this regard, the tear-lines traversing respectively the front walland the rear wall of the packaging preferably do not merge at a lateralside of the packaging being opposite to the lateral side having the finseal thus forming a non-merging portion at a periphery of the packagingbeing able to hold the packaging together in one piece when thetear-line is used to open the packaging. Similarly, the additionaltear-lines traversing respectively the front wall and the rear wall ofthe packaging preferably merge at the lateral side next to thenon-merging portion of the previous tear-line. In addition, theypreferably do not merge at the opposite lateral side thus forming afurther non-merging portion at a periphery of the packaging being ableto hold the packaging in one single piece when the tear-lines are usedto open the packaging.

It is thus possible to open the packaging step by step in a controlledmanner during the whole consumption of the product. Due to severalopening steps, the invention provides an easy access to the product viaa wide opening wherein the opening steps may correspond to the biteneeds of the consumer; one bite may correspond to one opening step. Thenumber of transversal opening sections (i.e. tear-lines) is thus notlimited. The opening feature is thus controlled and is also continuousso as to avoid remnant material when consuming the product. The firstopening is initiated by the opening aid and further opening steps areinitiated by pulling the gripper member or remnant wrapping material.Throughout consumption the packaging is not removed in one step due tothe non-merging portions at the end of each of the tear-lines. It isthus possible to continuously open the product step by step andaccording to the consumer's rate of consumption, thus giving an easy andwide access to the product.

Further, the plurality of tear-lines avoids contamination of both theproduct and the consumer's fingers through the controlled opening stepsuntil the end of the consumption. As the opening of said packaging isdirected toward the end of the product step by step, there is no need topress onto the product via the packaging to access the product.

When having more than one tear-line, the entirety of the tear-linesforms a zigzag pattern on the front and/or the rear wall of thepackaging thus allowing the continuous and controlled opening over partsof or the whole packaging.

Preferably, the transverse axis of the packaging being perpendicular tothe lateral side having the fin seal and the respective tear-lineenclose an (acute) angle of less than 80°, preferably less than 60°. Dueto the predefined angle, a wide opening can be defined depending on thetype of the product to be consumed as well as its dimensions.

The non-merging portion preferably extends from the respective lateralside over less than 20%, preferably less than 10%, more preferably lessthan 5% of the total width of the packaging. It is thus possible toprovide a non-merging portion which is both big and strong enough toavoid the packaging being torn apart in separate pieces while stillproviding a wide opening of the packaging to easily access the productto be consumed.

The portion of the fin seal extending between the opening aid and one ofthe end seals (preferably the end seal being closer to the opening aid)preferably is a gripper member designed to initiate opening of thepackaging, thus enhancing an intuitive and easy opening of packaging.

The width of the fin seal is preferably greater than or equal to thethickness of the packaging. Hence, it is possible to fold back the finseal to wrap at least the (adjacent) lateral side portion of thepackaging having said fin seal. The side fin seal can thus be easilyhidden for aesthetic reasons while still being easily accessible in anintuitive way. Further, the respective lateral side of the package canbe printed by printing the fin seal. The imprint may, for instance, alsocomprise an opening instruction.

The opening aid preferably is a notch being provided (e.g. cut) in thefin seal. Preferably, the notch has a triangular shape or form.

Further, the extension of the tear-line into the fin seal may form afirst edge of the opening aid. The other (second) edge of the openingaid preferably extends from the tear-line so as to diverge from thefirst edge of the opening aid; i.e. extends in a direction so as toapproach a transverse axis crossing the geometrical center of thepackaging. As the tear-line extends into a side portion of the openingaid, the packaging can be easily opened and the opening aid as well asthe tear-line can be easily provided into the flow wrap in one singlestep.

The tear-line preferably is a pre-cut pattern, more preferably a laserscore line. As the opening pattern is done through a pre-cut, theopening location can be precisely defined.

Further features, advantages and objects of the present invention wouldcome apparent for the skilled person when reading the following detaileddescription of embodiments of the present invention, when taking inconjunction with the figures of the enclosed drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a packaging according to theinvention.

FIG. 2 a shows a front view of a packaging according to a firstembodiment of the invention in a closed condition.

FIG. 2 b shows a top view of the packaging according to FIG. 2 a.

FIG. 3 a shows a front view of the packaging according to FIG. 2 ahaving the fin seal being unfolded.

FIG. 3 b shows a top view of the packaging according to FIG. 3 a.

FIG. 4 shows a front view of the packaging according to FIG. 2 a in anopened condition.

FIG. 5 a shows a front view of a packaging according to a secondembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 b shows a top view of the packaging according to FIG. 5 a.

FIG. 6 a shows a front view of the packaging according to FIG. 5 ahaving the fin seal being unfolded.

FIG. 6 b shows a top view of the packaging according to FIG. 6 a.

FIG. 7 shows a front view of the packaging according to FIG. 5 a in anopen condition after a first opening step.

FIG. 8 shows a front view of the packaging according to FIG. 5 a in anopen condition after a second opening step.

FIG. 9 shows a front view of a packaging according to a third embodimentof the invention.

FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of the packaging according to FIG. 6 aincluding the initial gripping condition of the hands for opening thepackaging.

FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of the packaging according to FIG. 7including the gripping condition of the hands.

FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of the packaging according to FIG. 8showing the gripping condition of the hands.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the packaging 1 according to theinvention. The packaging 1 according to the embodiments has asubstantially cuboid form but the invention is not limited thereto as isdescribed herein.

The packaging 1 comprises a flow wrap 2 which preferably consists of aflexible plastic material; a foil sheet or aluminum sheet, or ametalized foil material, or the like materials commonly used forconsumable packaging. The flow wrap 2 is closed by end seals 3, 4 at twoopposed ends 5, (preferably at the narrow short lateral sides) as wellas a fin seal 7 extending in a longitudinal direction of the packaging 1between the two end seals 3, 4 to completely seal the packaging 1,preferably in an air-tight manner, thus forming a sealed packaging 1.The packaging 1 is adapted to be used with food products like candy bars(e.g. chocolate bars or chocolate-type bars or similar items) or otherproducts which are to be consumed piece by piece like ice-cream bars orother chilled products and the like; the food products P are placed inthe packaging 1 according to the invention as can be seen in FIG. 4, forinstance, and are sealably wrapped by the flow wrap 2.

Also, with respect to FIGS. 2 a, 2 b, 3 a, 3 b and 4 (showing a firstembodiment of the invention), the fin seal 7 is provided at one of thelateral sides 8, 12 (preferably the narrow long lateral sides) of thepackaging 1, said lateral side is in the following also referred to asfirst lateral side 8. The lateral side 12 being opposite to the firstlateral side 8 is in the following also referred to as second lateralside 12.

It is noted that the invention is not limited to a packaging having twoopposed end seals and the fin seal extending between these two endseals. In case the packaging 1 has, for instance, a triangular form, itcan also be arranged in a different way as will be described later onwith respect to another embodiment of the invention.

The width W of the fin seal 7 is preferably greater than or equal to thethickness T of the packaging 1 such that the fin seal 7 can be foldedback to wrap around at least said (first) lateral side portion 8 of thepackaging 1 having said fin seal 7 as can be seen in FIG. 2 b.Preferably, the ratio of the total width of the packaging 1 to the widthW of the fin seal 7 is about 1/20 to 1/1, preferably 1/1.5.

As can be clearly seen in FIGS. 1, 2 a and 3 a, an opening aid 9 isprovided in the fin seal 7. In a preferred embodiment, the opening aid 9is provided in the fin seal 7 so as to be closer to one of the endseals; being the first end seal 3 in the depicted embodiments. That isto say that in the latter case the opening aid 9 is provided in the finseal 7 in a region being off-centered with respect to a geometricalcenter C of the packaging 1 and in a direction of a longitudinal axis Aof the packaging 1. In other words, the opening aid 9 can be provided ina region between one of the end seals (first end seal 3) as well as atransverse axis (not shown) crossing the geometrical center C of thepackaging 1 and being in parallel to the first end seal 3, the openingaid 9 thus being closer to the first end seal 3 with respect to thegeometrical center C of the packaging 1.

The opening aid can be a notch 9 being provided (e.g. cut) in the finseal 7. Preferably, the notch 9 may have a triangular form but can alsohave any other form for enhancing an initial opening of the packaging 1and providing an intuitively operable opening means.

A portion of the fin seal 7 extending between the opening aid 9 and oneof the end seals 3, 4, preferably the end seal (the first end seal 3 inthe depicted embodiments) being closer to the opening aid 9 than theother end seal (the second end seal 4 in the depicted embodiments) canbe used as a gripper member 10 to enable a consumer to grip the grippermember 10 by his fingers (as also shown in FIG. 10) and thus to initiatean easy and intuitive opening of the packaging 1. As the fin seal 7 isprovided at a side of the packaging 1, the consumer, when facing thepackaging 1, can easily locate the opening feature and intuitivelyrealizes to grasp the gripper member 10 to open the packaging 1.

As can be seen in FIGS. 2 a and 3 a, the opening aid 9 passes into, i.e.extends into a tear-line 11 which diagonally traverses at least one of afront wall F and rear wall R of the packaging 1. That is to say that thetear-line starting from the opening aid 9 transversely and diagonallyextends across the packaging 1 on the respective side (front or rearwall F, R) or on both the front wall F and the rear wall R thereof. Thetear-line thus diagonally traverses at least one or both of the frontand rear wall F, R of the packaging 1, wherein in case tear-lines 11traverse both the front and rear wall F, R, the tear-lines 11 on bothsides of the packaging 1 preferably extend in parallel to each other (infront view). In the latter case, the product to be consumed is exposedin an identical way with respect to the front and rear wall F, R of thepackaging 1.

In a preferred embodiment, the tear-line 11 preferably diagonallytraverses the packaging 1 so as to approach the end seal (second endseal 4) being opposite to the first end seal 3. How far the tear-line 11approaches the second end seal 4 depends on the inclination angle of thetear-line 11 as is described herein.

The tear-line 11 preferably is a pre-cut pattern, most preferably alaser-score line to allow a controlled opening of the packaging 1 oncethe opening is initiated by grabbing and pulling the packaging 1,particularly the gripper member 10.

A transverse axis V of the packaging 1 is shown in FIGS. 2 a and 3 a,which transverse axis V is perpendicular to the lateral sides 8, 12,preferably at least the lateral side 8 having the fin seal 7. Thetransverse axis V as well as the respective tear-line 11 preferablyenclose an angle α of less than 80°, more preferably less than 50°.Hence, the tear-line 11 can be adapted to the needs of the consumer inconjunction with the product to be consumed. Dependent on the angle αbeing chosen, the width or size of the opening O of the packaging 1 canbe defined as well as the amount of the product P to be exposed afterhaving opened the packaging 1 along the tear-line 11.

The extension of the tear-line 11 into the fin seal 7 can form a sideportion (first edge 91) of the opening aid 9. The other side portion(second edge 92) of the opening aid 9 preferably extends from thetear-line 11 so as to diverge from the first edge 91 of the opening aid9; i.e. preferably extends in a direction so as to approach a transverseaxis crossing the geometrical center C of the packaging 1, in case theopening aid 9 is provided closer to one of the end seals 3, 4. As thetear-line 11 extends into the precut opening aid 9, an easy opening canbe guaranteed without any undesired random opening. The first and secondside portions or edges 91, 92 of the opening aid 9 are further arrangedsuch that the opening aid 9 expands to an outside of the fin seal 7being opposite to the tear-line 11 to further enable an easy location ofthe intuitively operable opening feature.

The tear-lines 11 traversing respectively the front wall F and rear wallR of the packaging 1 preferably do not merge at a lateral side (thesecond lateral side 12) of the packaging 1 being opposite to the firstlateral side 8 having the fin seal 7 thus forming a non-merging portionN at a periphery of the packaging 1. The non-merging portion N is thuspreferably provided in a region in extension of the tear-lines 11 and onan opposite side of a region of the packaging 1 where the tear-lines 11on both sides F, R of the packaging 1 merge together (and extend intothe opening aid 9). The non-merging portion N is able to hold thepackaging 1 together in one piece in case the tear-line 11 is used toopen the packaging 1. This is clearly depicted in FIG. 4 where thepackaging 1 is not torn apart into separate pieces due to thenon-merging portion N such that the two parts 30, 31 of the packaging 1are still connected by means of the non-merging portion N.

In a preferred embodiment, the non-merging portion N extends from therespective lateral side (the second lateral side 12 in FIG. 2 a) overless than 20%, preferably less than 10%, more preferably less than 5% ofthe total width W_(total) of the packaging 1. In other words, thetear-line(s) 11 extend(s) from a lateral side (the first long lateralside 8 in FIG. 2 a), e.g. a side where the tear-lines 11 traversingrespectively the front and rear wall F, R of the packaging 1 merge (atthe respective side portion), over at least 80%, preferably at least90%, more preferably at least 95% in a transversal direction withrespect to the packaging 1 towards the opposite lateral side (the secondlateral side 12 in FIG. 2 a) such that the tear-lines 11 traversing boththe front and rear walls F, R of the packaging 1 do not merge at thisother opposite lateral side.

As can be seen in FIG. 4, the product P to be consumed is thus exposedthrough a wide opening O of the packaging 1 while at the same time thefin seal 7 being placed at one of the sides of the packaging 1 whenfacing the packaging 1 constitutes an opening feature which is easy tolocate and easily and intuitively operable. Due to the controlled andguided opening by means of the tear-line 11 starting from the openingaid 9 of or in the fin seal 7 being arranged at a side (narrow longlateral side 8) of the packaging 1, the package 1 must not be crushed orotherwise squeezed to grip it for somehow opening the packaging 1 suchthat the product P is not damaged. The diagonal extension of thetear-line 11 allows a wide opening of the packaging 1 according to theneeds of the consumer in conjunction with the product P to be consumed.

With respect to FIGS. 5 a, 5 b, 6 a, 6 b, 7 and 8, another embodiment ofthe packaging 100 according to the invention is shown. The packaging 100according to this embodiment preferably further comprises at least oneadditional tear-line 20, wherein the invention is not limited thereto.In fact, the number of additional tear-lines is not limited by theinvention. For example, FIG. 9 shows a third embodiment of the packaging110 according to the invention having a plurality of (three) additionaltear-lines 20, 21, 22.

It is noted that identical features of the respective embodiments areprovided with the same reference numerals. What has been described withrespect to the first embodiment thus also applies for the embodimentsdescribed in the following.

As can be clearly seen in FIGS. 5 a and 6 a or FIG. 9, the additionaltear-lines 20, 21, 22 extend from a region of the lateral side 12 or 8of the packaging 100, 110 close to where the previous tear-line ends(e.g. where the non-merging portion N of the previous tear-line 11, 20,21 is provided), and the additional tear-line 20, 21, 22 diagonallytraverses at least one of the front and rear wall F, R of the packagingin a direction so that all tear-lines 11, 20, 21, 22 approach the sameend seal (preferably the second end seal 4). That is to say, that theadditional tear-lines 20, 21, 22 transversely and diagonally extendsacross the packaging 1 on one or both the front and rear wall F, Rthereof and, in the latter case, preferably in parallel to each other,such that the additional tear-line 20, 21, 22 is inclined to approachone of the end seals 3, 4 (preferably the second end seal 4 beingopposite to the first end seal 3). In case there is present more thanone tear-line, the tear-lines 11, 20, 21, 22 are arranged such that theydo not cross each other (preferably in front view) so that the packagingis not torn apart into separate pieces when the tear-lines 11, 20, 21,22 are successively used step by step to open the packaging 100, 110according to the consumer's needs.

In case the tear-lines 11, 20, 21, 22 extend on both sides of thepackaging 100, 110, the additional tear-lines 20, 21, 22 traversingrespectively the front wall F and the rear wall R of the packaging 100,110 merge at the lateral side 12 or 8 of the packaging 100, 110 next tothe non-merging portion N of the previous tear-line 11, 20, 21, and donot merge at the opposite lateral side 8 or 12 of the packaging 100, 110thus forming a further non-merging portion N at a periphery of thepackaging 100, 110 being able to hold the packaging 100, 110 together inone single piece when the tear-lines 11, 20, 21, 22 are used to open thepackaging 100, 110.

In a preferred embodiment, each of the tear-lines 11, 20, 21, 22 extendsdiagonally from an upper portion of the packaging 1, 100, 110 to a lowerportion thereof while a subsequent tear-line 20, 21, 22 having its upperportion close to the region of (i.e. next to) the lower portion of theprevious tear-line 11, 20, 21 extends diagonally downwards todistance/diverge from the previous tear-line 11, 20, 21 while therespective upper portion of each of the tear-lines 11, 20, 21, 22merges, i.e. reaches into the respective lateral side portions 8 or 12while the respective lower portions of the tear-lines 11, 20, 21, 22 donot merge in a region of or close to the respective lateral side 12 or 8of the packaging 1, 100, 110, thus forming the non-merging portions N.

With respect to FIGS. 5 a, 6 a and 9, the transverse axis V of thepackaging 100, 110 as well as each of the tear-lines 11, 20, 21, 22preferably enclose an angle α,β,γ,δ of less than 80°, more preferablyless than 50°. The angles α,β,γ,δ of the respective tear-lines 11, 20,21, 22 do not need to be identical, but in a preferred embodiment, atleast two or all of the angles α,β,γ,δ are identical; i.e. (α=β=γ=δ).For example, the angles α,β of the first tear-lines 11, 20 can beidentical and the angles γ,δ of the following tear-lines 21, 22 can beidentical but smaller than the first two angles α,β to accommodate theconsumer's needs who likes to consume big pieces when first opening thepackaging 100, 110 but wants to consume less when the initial hunger issatisfied. Hence, the tear-lines 11, 20, 21, 22 can be adapted to theneeds of the consumer in conjunction with the product to be consumed.Dependent on the angles α,β,γ,δ being chosen, the width or size of theopening O of the packaging 100, 110 for each opening step as well as theamount of the product P to be exposed after every single opening step ofthe packaging 100, 110 along the respective tear-lines 11, 20, 21, 22can be individually pre-defined.

Hence, when intuitively gripping the packaging 1, 100, 110 at thegripper member 10 (see FIG. 10) and pulling said gripper member 10 in adirection as indicated by arrow P1 in FIG. 11 to initiate an opening ofa package 1, 100, 110, the packaging 1, 100, 110 will first tear alongthe first tear-line 11 until it reaches the first non-merging portion Nat the end of the first tear-line 11. Then, the consumer can consume theproduct P which is now exposed from the packaging 1, 100, 110 allowingan easy access to the product P because of a controlled wide opening ofthe packaging 1. This first opening step may correspond to one or apredefined number of bites as can be seen in FIG. 11.

To further expose the product P to be consumed, the consumer mayinitiate the following opening steps by pulling the gripper member 10 orthe remnant wrapping material 31 in a direction as indicated by arrow P2in FIG. 12 while the whole packaging 100 remains connected. This isclearly depicted in FIG. 12 where the packaging is not torn apart inseparate pieces due to the non-merging portion N such that the three (ormore) parts 30, 31, 32 of the packaging 1 are still connected by each ofthe non-merging portions N of the respective tear-lines 11, 20, 21, 22which have been used (opened).

The opening feature according to the invention controls the opening ofthe packaging 1, 100, 110 along one single path. The invention thusoffers the opportunity to continuously open the packaging 1, 100, 110and expose the product P according to the consumer's needs while at thesame time providing an easy access to the product via a wide opening O.Further, the packaging 1, 100, 110 is a “mess-free” application as thepackaging 1, 100, 110 renders superfluous the need to press onto thepackaging in order to guide the rest of the product P towards andthrough the opening since the opening steps allow to successively exposethe product P step by step. It is thus possible by means of thepackaging 1, 100, 110 according to the invention to expose the product Pto be consumed by simply pulling the remnant material 31, 32 or grippingmember 10 to open the packaging step by step and without applying apressure onto the product P itself.

The invention, however, is not limited to the size of the packaging 1,100, 110 and product as well as the number of tear-lines 11, 20, 21, 22.For example, FIG. 9 shows the packaging 110 having four tear-lines 11,20, 21, 22 (at each of the front and rear wall F, R) but the packagingmay also have less (at least one) or more tear-lines. It is to beunderstood that the tear-lines 11, 20, 21, 22 must not cross each otherto avoid the packaging 1, 100, 110 being torn into separate pieces.

The entirety of the tear-lines 11, 20, 21, 22 according to the inventionpreferably forms a zigzag pattern on the front wall F and/or rear wall Rof the packaging 100, 110 (i.e. in side view) as can be seen in FIGS. 5a, 6 a and 9. When only having two tear-lines 11, 20, as shown in thesecond embodiment, these tear-lines 11, 20 are arranged in a V-shape. Inother words, adjacent tear-lines 11, 20 or 20, 21 or 21, 22 and so onare always arranged in a V-shape, wherein the “V” is alternately open tothe lateral side (e.g. the first and second lateral sides 8, 12according to FIG. 9) of the packaging 110.

It has already been described above that the packaging is not limited toa rectangular shape. It is also possible that the packaging may have asquare, rectangular, triangular or any other shape in side view whilethe packaging may also have a circular, oval, square or rectangular orany other cross-section in a top view.

In this case, the packaging (e.g. a rectangular packaging 1, 100, 110 asshown in the figures or a triangular shaped packaging as not shown inthe figures) also comprises the before-mentioned flow wrap 2 which isclosed by at least one end seal 3, 4 and a fin seal 7, the latterextending at and along a lateral side (e.g. 8) of the packaging 1. Theopening aid (e.g. notch) 9 is provided in the fin seal 7, preferablyclose to one of the ends of the fin seal 7 in its longitudinaldirection. In case the opening aid 9 is located close to one of the endsof the fin seal 7, the opening aid 9 preferably is at least partiallysituated outside a respective end seal 3. The opening aid 9 also passesor extends into a tear-line 11 which diagonally traverses at least oneof a front and rear wall F, R of the packaging 1, 100, 110 in adirection so as to diverge from an axis V being orthogonal to thelongitudinal extension of the fin seal 7 and crossing the starting pointS of the tear-line 11. In other words, the tear-line 11 may transverselyextend in a slanting direction across the packaging on one or both ofthe front and rear wall F, R thereof, such that the tear-line 11 isinclined to extend in the direction away from the end of the fin seal 7having the opening aid 9. The starting point S of the tear-line 11 canbe understood as the merging region of both the tear-lines 11 traversingrespectively the front and rear wall F, R, as the portion being oppositeto the non-merging portion N, or just as the portion of the tear-lineclosest to the opening aid 9 or being torn first when using thetear-line 11 to open the packaging 1, 100, 110.

The tear-line 11 may thus traverse one or both of the front and rearwall F, R of the packaging 1, 100, 110. In the latter case, thetear-lines traverse both the front and rear wall F, R in a direction soas to diverge from the axis V being orthogonal to the longitudinalextension of the fin seal 7 when the axis V passes the starting point Sof the tear-lines 11 (i.e. where the tear-lines merge together or wherethe opening aid is located or the like). The tear-lines extending onboth sides of the packaging 1, 100, 110 preferably extend in parallel toeach other.

The tear-lines 11 traversing respectively the front and rear wall F, Rof the packaging 1, 100, 110 do not merge at an end thereof being mostdistanced from the opening aid 9 thus forming a non-merging portion N ata periphery of the packaging 1, 100, 110 being able to hold thepackaging 1, 100, 110 together in one single piece when the tear-lines11 are used for opening the packaging 1, 100, 110.

Further, the rectangular or non-rectangular shaped packages 1, 100, 110may comprise at least one or more additional tear-lines 20, 21, 22,wherein said additional tear-lines 20, 21, 22 each extend from a regionof a lateral side 12, 8 of the packaging 1, 100, 110 close to where theprevious tear-line 11, 20, 21 ends. The additional tear-line 20, 21, 22preferably diagonally traverses at least one of the front and rear wallF, R of the packaging 1, 100, 110 such that the tear-line 20, 21, 22 isinclined to diverge from the previous tear-line 11, 20, 21; i.e. thetear-lines 20, 21, 22 transversely extend in a slanting direction acrossthe packaging 1, 100, 110 on one or both sides thereof such that thetear-line 20, 21, 22 is inclined to diverge from the previous tear-line11, 20, 21, wherein the tear-lines 20, 21, 22 extending on both sides ofthe packaging 1, 100, 110 preferably extend in parallel to each other inside view. The tear-lines 11, 20, 21, 22 are arranged such that they donot cross each other. Hence, two adjacent tear-lines 11, 20 or 20, 21 or21, 22 on one of the front and rear wall F, R are thus arranged in aV-shaped manner such that a plurality of tear-lines 11, 20, 21, 22 formsa zigzag pattern on the front wall F and/or rear wall R of the packaging1, 100, 110.

The additional tear-lines 20, 21, 22 traversing respectively the frontand rear wall F, R of the packaging 1, 100, 110 can merge at a lateralside 8, 12 of the packaging next to the non-merging portion N of theprevious tear-line 11, 20, 21. These portions preferably do not merge atan end thereof being most distanced from the non-merging portion N ofthe previous tear-line 11, 20, 21 thus forming a further non-mergingportion N at a periphery of the packaging 1, 100, 110 being able to holdthe packaging together in one single piece when the tear-lines 11, 20,21, 22 are used to open the packaging 1, 100, 110. In case more than onetear-line is provided on one of the front and rear wall F, R, thesetear-lines 11, 20, 21, 22 are arranged such that they do not cross eachother as already mentioned above.

The invention thus provides a controlled and guided opening of thepackaging 1, 100, 110 to open the packaging 1, 100, 110 in severalpredefined opening steps which can be defined due to the angle andnumber of tear-lines 11, 20, 21, 22 in conjunction with the size of thepackaging 1, 100, 110. The number of transversal opening sections(tear-lines 11, 20, 21, 22) is not limited by the invention. Due to thenon-merging portions N, the packaging 1, 100, 110 is not torn apart intoseparate pieces and thus the invention offers the opportunity tocontinuously open the product P step by step while the product P mustnot be pushed to guide the product towards and through the opening andthus not be damaged. Further, contamination of both the product and theconsumer's finger can be avoided.

The tear of the opening is initiated by the opening aid or notch 9placed in the fin seal area which is usually placed at the back of theproduct P for aesthetic reasons. According to the invention, the finseal 7 is placed at one of the sides (lateral side 8 in the depictedembodiments) of the packaging 1, 100, 110 when facing the product P thusenabling an easy and intuitively operable opening feature.

In the following, a method for opening a packaging 100 according to theinvention is described with reference to FIGS. 10 to 12.

In a first step, the consumer facing and holding the packaging 100unfolds the fin seal 7 (see FIG. 10). By gripping and pulling thegripper member 10 in a direction as indicated by arrow P1 of FIG. 11,the packaging 100 tears along the first tear-line 11 when the two parts30, 31 of the packaging 100 are distanced from each other. However,according to a preferred embodiment, as the tear-line 11 does not extendover the whole periphery of the packaging 100 but ends in or betterleads into the non-merging portion N close to the narrow long lateralside 12 being opposite to the long lateral side 8 having the fin seal 7,the two parts 30, 31 of the packaging 100 are not separated.

The product P to be consumed is now exposed through the opening O of thepackaging 1. The size of the exposed product piece corresponds to one ora predefined number of bites.

The consumer can now pack away the packaging 100 enclosing the rest ofthe product P. At any time, the consumer can then, in a second openingstep, grasp and pull again at the gripper member 10 or any other part ofthe remnant material 31 in a direction as indicated by arrow P2 of FIG.12 to initiate a second opening step. As the parts 30, 31 of thepackaging 100 according to the depicted embodiment are connected bymeans of the non-merging portion N, the applied drag force istransmitted via the non-merging portion N so as to tear the packaging100 along the second tear-line 20 so as to further open the packaging100, preferably to allow a predefined number of bites. The amount ofuncovering of the product P after each of the opening steps depends onthe inclination angle of the tear-line diagonally traversing thepackaging wall(s). As the second tear-line 20 also extends in anon-merging portion N, the three parts 30, 31, 32 of the openedpackaging 100 are still connected via all the respective non-mergingportions N, N. Hence, the consumer can consume the product P in a“mess-free” way and according to his needs without unnecessarilyuncovering the product when it is not needed and also avoids applying aforce onto the product (via the packaging) to push the product towardsand out of the opening.

There may also be provided more than the shown two tear-lines 11, 20such that the consumer can then, in further opening steps, further openthe packaging 100 by simply pulling at the gripper member 10 or any ofthe remnant material parts 31, 32 of the packaging 100.

Although the present invention has been described with reference topreferred embodiments thereof, many modifications and alternations maybe made by a person having ordinary skills in the art without departingfrom the scope of this invention which is defined by the appendedclaims. For example, the material of the packaging, its dimensions aswell as the relations between the opening aid and the fin seal, the finseal and the packaging, and the like as well as the number of tear-linesas well as their angles with respect to a transversal or longitudinalaxis or to each other as well as the extension of the tear-lines are notlimited by the invention.

In case the packaging has a square shaped body, all narrow lateral sides(i.e. the narrow long and short lateral sides) have the same length. Thesame applies for an equilateral triangular shaped packaging or arhomboidal packaging and the like.

It is also noted that the rectangular or cuboid shaped packaging canhave its end seals being provided at the narrow long lateral sides whilethe fin seal extends between said end seals and is provided at one ofthe narrow short lateral sides.

All features of the embodiments can be combined in any possible way aslong as being covered by the scope of the invention as given by theappended claims. It is also to be understood that the method maycomprise any of the steps as also described with respect to all of theembodiments, even if not explicitly mentioned again in the descriptionof the method steps.

1. A sealed packaging for food products comprising a flow wrap, the flowwrap is closed by end seals at two opposed ends and a fin seal extendingin a longitudinal direction of the packaging between the two end seals;the fin seal is provided at a lateral side of the packaging, wherein anopening aid is provided in the fin seal; and the opening aid extendsinto a tear-line which diagonally traverses at least one of a front andrear wall of the packaging.
 2. The packaging according to claim 1,comprising at least a further tear-line, the additional tear-lineextends from a region of the lateral side close to where the previoustear-line ends, and the additional tear-line diagonally traverses atleast one of the front and rear wall of the packaging in a direction sothat all the tear-lines approach the same end seal, and the tear-linesare arranged such that they do not cross each other.
 3. The packagingaccording to claim 1, wherein the tear-line diagonally traverses boththe front and rear wall of the packaging, and the tear-lines on bothsides of the packaging extend in parallel to each other.
 4. Thepackaging according to claim 1, wherein the opening aid is provided inthe fin seal so as to be closer to one of the end seals being a firstend seal.
 5. The packaging according to claim 4, wherein tear-linesdiagonally traverse the packaging so as to approach the end seal beingopposite to the first end seal.
 6. The packaging according to claim 1,wherein tear-lines traversing respectively the front wall and the rearwall of the packaging do not merge at a lateral side of the packagingbeing opposite to the lateral side having the fin seal thus forming anon-merging portion at a periphery of the packaging being able to holdthe packaging together in one piece when the tear-line is used to openthe packaging.
 7. The packaging according to claim 6, wherein theadditional tear-lines traversing respectively the front wall and therear wall of the packaging merge at the lateral side next to thenon-merging portion of the previous tear-line, and do not merge at theopposite lateral side thus forming a further non-merging portion at aperiphery of the packaging being able to hold the packaging together inone single piece when the tear-lines are used to open the packaging. 8.The packaging according to claim 6, wherein the non-merging portionextends from the respective lateral side over less than 20% of the totalwidth of the packaging.
 9. The packaging according to claim 2, whereinthe entirety of the tear-lines forms a zigzag pattern on the frontand/or the rear wall of the packaging.
 10. The packaging according toclaim 1, wherein the transverse axis of the packaging beingperpendicular to the lateral side having the fin seal as well as therespective tear-lines enclose an angle of less than 80°.
 11. Thepackaging according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the fin sealextending between the opening aid and one of the end seals is a grippermember designed to initiate opening of the packaging.
 12. The packagingaccording to claim 1, wherein the width of the fin seal is greater thanor equal to the thickness of the packaging, such that the fin seal canbe folded back to wrap at least the lateral side portion of thepackaging having the fin seal.
 13. The packaging according to claim 1,wherein the opening aid is a notch.
 14. The packaging according to claim1, wherein the extension of the tear-line into the fin seal forms afirst edge of the opening aid, and wherein a second edge of the openingaid extends from the tear-line so as to diverge from the first edge. 15.The packaging according to claim 1, wherein the tear-line is a precutpattern.